JP3241715U - Cruise control auxiliary device - Google Patents

Abstract

[PROBLEMS] To provide a cruise control auxiliary device capable of operating at least a part of a cruise control function by accelerator operation without operating a cruise control switch or the like provided on a steering wheel of a vehicle, thereby improving safety during vehicle driving. A cruise control assisting device (100) for assisting a cruise control function provided in a vehicle, comprising accelerator opening information acquiring means (110) for acquiring accelerator opening information, and a pseudo signal transmission means 120 for transmitting a pseudo signal for operating the cruise control to the vehicle side without operating a cruise control operation switch provided in the vehicle based on the accelerator opening information, and by operating the accelerator pedal, Operate certain cruise control functions. [Selection drawing] Fig. 1

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to the technical field of vehicles, and more particularly to a technology that assists a cruise control function originally provided in a vehicle and further enhances convenience.

In recent years, the cruise control function of vehicles has become widespread (see Patent Document 1, for example). The cruise control function generally requires the following operations, although the detailed functions differ depending on the vehicle and manufacturer.

Switches (buttons) for operating the cruise control function are overwhelmingly found on the steering wheel of the vehicle.

The cruise control function does not automatically enter the standby state (the state where the cruise control function can be demonstrated) just by turning on the engine or power of the vehicle, and an ON / OFF switch (standby switch) dedicated to the cruise control function is provided. When the standby switch is operated, the cruise control function is put into a state (standby state) for the first time.

When the cruise control function is in the standby state and a given switch is operated, the speed of the vehicle at the time the particular switch is pressed is set as the cruising speed, and at that set speed (in some cases, depending on the speed of the vehicle ahead) Start cruising (while varying cruising speed).

When the brake pedal is depressed while cruising with the cruise control function, cruising with the cruise control function is temporarily canceled (however, the standby state of the cruise control function is maintained).

When a predetermined switch provided on the handle portion is operated in the released state, cruising is resumed at the cruising speed set before the release.

When a predetermined switch on the handle portion is operated while the vehicle is cruising by the cruise control function, the set cruising speed is increased (or decreased) by a predetermined amount. Specifically, for example, when the vehicle is cruising at 80 km/h, if a switch for increasing the cruising speed is operated once, the vehicle will cruise at 85 km/h.

Depending on the vehicle and manufacturer, there are cases where more detailed functions and settings are provided, but basically the above operations are common to any vehicle model.

JP 2017-24479 A

However, since all cruise control operations are basically performed with the operation switches (operation buttons) provided on the handle, it is necessary to take your eyes off the front even if it is only for a moment when the operation is performed. Recently, there are many cases where various operation switches (such as the display changeover switch of the meter display) are arranged on the handle part, so unless you are very familiar with the operation, it is necessary to check the location of the target switch etc. It is from.

Even for a moment, if you take your eyes off the front and turn your eyes to the operation switch, you will be careless about the front at that moment, which may cause an accident or the like in some cases.

Therefore, the present invention was made to solve these problems, and it is possible to operate at least a part of the cruise control function by operating the accelerator without operating the cruise control switch or the like provided on the steering wheel of the vehicle. The challenge is to improve the safety during vehicle driving.

In order to solve the above problems, the invention of the present application is a cruise control assisting device for assisting a cruise control function provided in a vehicle, comprising accelerator opening information acquisition means for acquiring accelerator opening information; pseudo signal transmitting means for transmitting a pseudo signal for operating cruise control to the vehicle side based on accelerator opening information obtained from the acquiring means without operating a cruise control operation switch provided in the vehicle. It is characterized by

With this configuration, it is possible to operate at least a part of the cruise control function by operating the accelerator without operating the cruise control switch, etc. provided on the steering wheel of the vehicle, etc., and it is possible to improve the safety of driving the vehicle. It's becoming

Further, the pseudo signal transmission means is characterized by comprising a standby pseudo signal transmission means that enables the cruise control function when energized.

With such a configuration, there is no need to bother to put the cruise control function into the standby state.

Further, the pseudo signal transmitting means transmits a pseudo signal for restarting cruise control at the cruising speed at which cruising under cruise control was canceled by brake operation when the accelerator opening satisfies the first condition. Characterized by

With this configuration, it is possible to resume (reset) cruising by cruise control without operating switches (buttons) on the handle portion.

Further, the pseudo signal transmitting means is characterized in that, when the degree of opening of the accelerator satisfies the second condition, the pseudo signal is transmitted to increase the set speed set at that time by a predetermined amount.

By configuring in this way, it becomes possible to increase the cruising speed (increase the cruising speed) by the cruise control without operating the switches (buttons) of the handle portion.

Further, the pseudo signal transmitting means is characterized in that, when the degree of opening of the accelerator satisfies the third condition, the pseudo signal is transmitted to decrease the set speed set at that time by a predetermined amount.

With this configuration, it is possible to reduce the cruising speed (decrease the cruising speed) by the cruise control without operating switches (buttons) on the handle.

Further, the accelerator opening that satisfies the second condition is set to be larger than the accelerator opening that satisfies the first condition.

With this configuration, restarting the cruise control and increasing the cruising speed by operating the accelerator can be realized by a series of operations in the direction of stepping on the accelerator, so that the operation can be performed without discomfort.

By applying the present invention, it is possible to operate at least a part of the cruise control function by operating the accelerator without operating the cruise control switch or the like provided on the steering wheel of the vehicle, thereby improving the safety of driving the vehicle.

1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a cruise control auxiliary device that is an example of an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an example of connection between a cruise control auxiliary device, which is an example of an embodiment of the present invention, and an accelerator (accelerator sensor) of a vehicle; It is the figure which showed an example of the accelerator opening (accelerator depression amount).

A cruise control auxiliary device 100, which is an example of an embodiment of the present invention, will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In order to facilitate understanding of the drawings, it should be noted that the sizes and dimensions of various parts are exaggerated, and that some parts do not necessarily match the actual product. In addition, each drawing is viewed in the direction of the reference numerals, and is expressed as up, down, left, right, front, and back based on the direction.

<Configuration of cruise control auxiliary device>
As shown in FIG. 1, a cruise control auxiliary device 100 shown as an example of an embodiment of the present invention includes accelerator opening information acquisition means 110 for acquiring accelerator opening information, and from this accelerator opening information acquisition means 110, pseudo signal transmission means 120 for transmitting a pseudo signal for operating cruise control to the vehicle side without operating a cruise control operation switch provided in the vehicle (not shown) based on the obtained accelerator opening information; Prepare.

The accelerator opening information acquisition means 110 has, for example, an accelerator sensor harness 112 for connecting with an accelerator sensor 20 provided in the vehicle and first and second accelerator sensor interrupt couplers 114 and 116 connected thereto. In addition, the pseudo signal transmission means 110 includes a standby pseudo signal transmission means that enables the cruise control function when energized.

The pseudo signal transmission means 120 includes, for example, a pseudo signal transmission harness 122 for connecting to steering wheel operation switch harness couplers 40 and 50 provided in a vehicle, and first and second operation switch harness interrupt couplers 124 and 126 connected thereto. have.

The accelerator opening information acquiring means 110 and the pseudo signal transmitting means 120 are electrically connected, and when the accelerator opening satisfies a predetermined condition, the pseudo signal transmitting means 120 transmits the pseudo signal transmitting harness 122 and the harness 122 connected thereto. Via the first and second operation switch harness interrupt couplers 124 and 126, a pseudo signal (which is transmitted when an operation switch (button) for operating the cruise control provided on the steering wheel of the vehicle or the like is operated) is sent to the vehicle side. A signal that produces the same result as the signal that

The cruise control auxiliary device 100 operates by receiving power from the vehicle.

<Installation, operation and function of cruise control auxiliary device>
Installation of the cruise control auxiliary device 100 is very simple. An accelerator sensor 20 for detecting the degree of opening (depression amount) of the accelerator pedal 10 is provided near the accelerator pedal 10 of the vehicle (the location may differ depending on the vehicle). Accelerator sensor coupler 30 is connected to transmit the information of . The accelerator sensor coupler 30 is pulled out, and the first and second accelerator sensor interrupt couplers 114 and 116 are connected between the accelerator sensor coupler 30 and the accelerator sensor 20 so as to interrupt.

In addition, near the steering wheel of the vehicle (the location may differ slightly depending on the vehicle), an operation switch harness for transmitting the signal of the cruise control operation switch (button) provided on the steering wheel is provided. are connected by a coupler (handle operation switch harness coupler 40, 50). This coupler is once pulled out, and the first and second operation switch harness interrupting couplers 124, 126 are connected between the two couplers (handle operation switch harness couplers 40, 50) so as to be interrupted. The work for the basic point installation is the above.

The cruise control function does not automatically enter the standby state just by turning on the engine or power supply of the vehicle. However, the cruise control auxiliary device 100 is provided with a standby pseudo signal transmitting means that enables the cruise control function when energized. When the engine or power of the vehicle is turned on, the cruise control function of the vehicle is put into a standby state (ON state) in conjunction therewith.

When the cruise control function is in the standby state and a predetermined steering wheel switch is operated, the vehicle speed at the time the particular switch is pressed is set as the cruising speed, and at that set speed (in some cases, depending on the speed of the vehicle ahead) cruising speed).

When the brake pedal is depressed while cruising with the cruise control function, cruising with the cruise control function is temporarily canceled (however, the standby state of the cruise control function is maintained).

In the released state, a predetermined switch provided on the handle is normally operated to resume cruising at the cruising speed that was set before the release. If it is installed, by operating the accelerator pedal 10, it is possible to resume cruising at the cruising speed that was set before it was released.

In addition, FIG. It is the schematic which showed typically "accelerator opening (accelerator depression amount)." The position of α is the position when the accelerator is in the free state (the state where the accelerator is not depressed at all, the accelerator opening is 0%). On the other hand, β is the position when the accelerator is fully depressed (accelerator opening 100%).

For example, when the accelerator is depressed to a state of 15 to 25% (first condition), a dummy signal is sent to the vehicle to resume cruising at the cruising speed that was set before the release. sent and cruise resumes.

Furthermore, normally, when a predetermined switch on the handle portion is operated while the vehicle is cruising by the cruise control function, the set cruising speed is increased (or decreased) by a predetermined amount. Specifically, for example, when the vehicle is cruising at 80 km/h, if a switch for increasing the cruising speed is operated once, the vehicle will cruise at 85 km/h.

However, even here, if the cruise control auxiliary device 100 is installed, the set cruising speed can be increased by a predetermined amount by operating the accelerator pedal 10 .

For example, when the accelerator is depressed to a state of 26 to 50% (second condition), the set cruising speed is increased by a predetermined amount.

As described above, when the cruise control auxiliary device 100, which is an example of the embodiment of the present invention, is installed, the cruise control function can be at least partially operated by accelerator work without operating the cruise control switch or the like provided on the steering wheel of the vehicle. It is possible to improve safety while driving the vehicle.

<Other configuration examples>
In the above description, the intention of the driver is determined according to the degree of opening (depression amount) of the accelerator pedal, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, it is possible to make a judgment based on the number of times the accelerator pedal is stepped on within a certain period of time, or to make a judgment by combining them.

In the above description, an example of returning to cruising or increasing the cruising speed (increasing the cruising speed) by operating the accelerator pedal has been described, but other operations are also possible. For example, it is possible to reduce the cruising speed (decrease the cruising speed) by operating the accelerator pedal in a predetermined manner.

10 Accelerator pedal 20 Accelerator sensor 30 Accelerator sensor coupler 40, 50 Handle operation switch Harness coupler 100 Cruise control auxiliary device 110 Accelerator opening information acquisition means 112 Accelerator sensor harness 114 First accelerator sensor interrupt coupler 116 Second accelerator sensor interrupt coupler 120 Pseudo signal transmission means 120
122... Harness for sending pseudo signal 124... First operation switch harness Interrupt coupler (for sending pseudo signal)
126 . . . Second operation switch harness interrupt coupler (for pseudo signal transmission)
α・・・Position where accelerator opening is 0% (minimum stepping amount)
β・・・Position at 100% accelerator opening (maximum depression amount)

Claims (6)

A cruise control auxiliary device for assisting a cruise control function provided in a vehicle,
accelerator opening information acquisition means for acquiring accelerator opening information;
Pseudo signal transmission for transmitting a pseudo signal for operating cruise control to the vehicle side without operating a cruise control operation switch provided in the vehicle based on the accelerator opening information obtained from the accelerator opening information acquisition means. A cruise control auxiliary device comprising: means. In claim 1,
A cruise control assisting device, wherein the pseudo signal transmission means includes a standby pseudo signal transmission means that enables the cruise control function when energized. In claim 1 or 2,
The pseudo signal transmitting means is characterized in that, when the accelerator opening satisfies the first condition, the pseudo signal for restarting the cruise control at the cruising speed at which the cruising under the cruise control was canceled by the brake operation is transmitted. cruise control auxiliary device. In any one of claims 1 to 3,
Said pseudo-signal transmitting means transmits a pseudo-signal to increase the cruising speed set at that time by a predetermined amount when the accelerator opening satisfies the second condition. In any one of claims 1 to 4,
A cruise control assisting device, wherein the pseudo signal transmission means transmits a pseudo signal for decreasing the cruising speed set at that time by a predetermined amount when the accelerator opening satisfies the third condition. In claim 4,
A cruise control auxiliary device, wherein an accelerator opening that satisfies the second condition is set larger than an accelerator opening that satisfies the first condition.

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